Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Humbled (Part 1)

I had two humbling experiences this week.This one took place at school.

I am feeling pretty proud of myself, having volunteered to work the gate at our school’s volleyball tournament on Saturday.I sign up for the two hour early morning shift. Being a morning person, I know I can be perky, take their money, and give directions to the various courts, all at the same time, but, no.The Athletic Director looks at the sign-up sheet and says, “It’s easy to get people to work the gate; I need you to work the clock.”“But I’ve never worked the clock!”The panic is evident in my voice.“It’s easy.Every time a team scores, you push two buttons.”

It’s easy, he says, assuming that those two simple words will calm me down.But if it is not be easy for me, I will feel really, really stupid.

On Saturday morning, the varsity volleyball coach, thrilled to see that I have shown up, greets me with a smile.“Just so you know, I’ve never done this before.”“It’s easy,” he says.“Just push these two buttons when someone scores.Oh, and you’ll need to set the timer when someone calls a time out.Just push this button, this button, and then this one.And remember, it is very important to push this button to the off position before you reset it.You’ve kept the books at games for years.Compared to that, this will be a piece of cake.” As he walks away, I look down at the endless array of buttons I have to choose from, none of which have an obvious off position.

What have I gotten myself into?I love to learn new things, but not like this!I like advance warning, time to practice, and, most importantly, written directions.What I have is learn as you go in front of coaches, players, parents, and refs, every mistake noticed, every mistake public, humbling, humbling, humbling.

I muddle through and two hours later I am finished, having managed to work the clock for six games with just a few mishaps.This is one time when, instead of being proud to have learned something new, I am definitely humbled by it.

Aren't we funny creatures? The very thing that God says will lift us up is the hardest thing to do. Do I want to be lifted up by God - you bet I do! Do I want to go through humbling experiences to get there - not so much. It usually goes back to the feeling of being out of control. We don't like that feeling and will do everything we can to avoid it but yet that seems to be what God is asking us to do.